Fox Grant Dot Com’s flying finish
Despite being a man down, the victorious team wrap up the season with a 30-second winning margin ahead of their rivals
A TEXTBOOK round combining speed with accuracy won the Skinner’s open qualifier for Fox Grant Dot Com — a terrific season finale in front of the biggest crowd ever seen at the Semer venue.
With just three riders, Yvonne Goss could have been forgiven for setting a cautious pace on Jaffa, but Helen Swaddle aboard
Simon — drafted in from Team Rideaway — was hot on her heels. They made some impressive turns over the early part of the course, which features a double switchback followed by two tight corners in succession.
William Grant and Skipper Robin kicked on in their wake, as they made little of the three roadcrossings. With the lead switching back-and-forth between Yvonne and Helen, their captain, William, took advantage of the downhill run to the river — flying over a new drop-hedge, before making
up ground on the run in and gaining a 30-second margin over their nearest rivals.
“It’s incredible to ride behind Yvonne because she sees the right stride and angle every time,” said Helen about her team-mate. “If I’m in front, Simon is like the QE2 to turn but today he just wanted to follow Jaffa, which felt brilliant.”
Team Rideaway I ran them closest, with plenty of drama along the way. Stephen Clark’s Slim climbed the hedge into the corners and his team-mates piled into him.
Tabby Prest suffered a crashing fall from Max at the top of the course and Joe Stevenson’s Xucra De Foja slipped coming into the ski jump — jinking over the intermediate fence so they then had to retrace their steps.
Charlotte Alexander and Kingy ran on down the hill with Stephen and Joe surviving a huge jump over the drop before they sped to the finish. “It was a bit chaotic, but it’s been a long season and our horses have done us proud,” added Charlotte.
INSPIRED RIDING
RELENTLESS fielded a scratch squad, with Anne Mackley leading for the first time on the rising star Ghost, joined by her husband
Matt and eventing siblings Megan and Jessica Quinlan.
Anne got the steering sorted after the first switchback and made some great turns. Megan and Jessica were soon struggling to keep in touch, but galloped on gamely before Megan tipped off at the “Jewel In The Crown” bullfinch. Matt and Anne then waited for Jessica ahead of the river crossing and they popped over the final fences for third.
Team Rideaway II drafted in both riders and horses from the Cunning Stunts, with Joe Stevenson giving them a great lead on Scots Grey. They all made great leaps over the bullfinch, but then the first three glanced off at the log-and-hedge corner before the river — leaving
Harry Hutton and Honey to pop through in front, before they headed for home and eventual fourth place.
“It’s a great finish to the season, particularly as this is the course that inspired me to start team chasing when I came hunting at Semer,” said Harry.
Boring Gorings took fifth after Geraldine Fisher fell at the top of the course and her horse, Charlie, decided to rejoin the other horses as they approached the river.